Join us on 17 September 14:00-15:30 CEST for an online event on the post-quantum cryptography transition in such a critical sector as the financial system to discuss the state of play, challenges and the way forward with a line-up of distinguished experts in the field. 
Participation is free, but registration is required. The event link will be provided to registered participants.

Agenda:

14:00-15:00 Speaker presentations

15:00-15:30 Q&A and discussion

Speakers:

• Laima Jančiūtė, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Amsterdam
• Mike Silverman, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer, FS-ISAC
• Dennis van Heijst, Supervisor Operational and IT risk, De Nederlandsche Bank
• Jaime Gómez García, Global Head of Santander Quantum Threat Program/Chair of the Europol Quantum Safe Financial Forum (TBC)
• A speaker from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (TBC)
  
  

The context of the discussion
The financial sector is part of the critical infrastructure in which cyber threats represent systemic risks. Cryptographic security is fundamental for the functioning of the financial ecosystem. As warned by the International Monetary Fund in 2021, the anticipated “massive computing power of quantum machines threatens modern cryptography, with far-reaching implications for the financial stability and privacy” and that given that quantum computers also pose retroactive risks, “the time for action is now”. The Dutch PQC Migration Handbook identifies financial entities as “urgent adopters” who should start migration to quantum-resistant cryptography as soon as possible. Similarly, the Europol’s Quantum Safe Financial Forum has called in February 2025 for an urgent coordinated action to transition to PQC. Nevertheless, although various sector-specific initiatives to prepare for the mitigation of the quantum threat have already been taking place and awareness is gradually increasing, as some surveys have shown, there is still an overall lack of quantum-readiness and investment in related measures. At the same time, as a survey conducted by the German Information Security authority and KPMG indicated, regulatory requirements would stimulate a vast majority of organisations to adopt more proactive attitudes towards deployment of quantum-safe cryptography. In the EU, a sector-specific legislation DORA has been recently introduced highlighting the importance of strong cybersecurity requirements in the financial sector. General PQC transition-related policies have been also put in place in various countries, including in the US and the EU, alongside the existing data protection and cybersecurity frameworks. According to the Quantum Safe Financial Forum, at present “there is no need for additional legislation to be made; a voluntary framework established between regulators and the private sector would be sufficient to set guidelines for quantum-safe cryptography and promoting standardisation across institutions”. In the meantime, the first PQC algorithms have been standardised to facilitate practical implementations.

What is the state of play of the PQC transition in the financial sector? What governance steps are still needed for its full enactment?

We look very much forward to welcoming you at this event!

On Tuesday 11 June 2024 in collaboration with our partners Quantum Delta NL, NWO, TNO and ECP we organized our official QISS research launch event Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity: Cryptocalypse or Overhype? This event took place during Quantum Meets ’24, a free three-day event in the KIT Institute Amsterdam, connecting quantum researchers, businesses, end-users, and policymakers. The QISS research group had organized an exciting afternoon session, focusing on the impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity and the society wide transition it calls for.

There were  presentations and a round table discussion with our invited international experts from academia, government, and the private sector: Bart Groothuis (member European Parliament), prof. Michele Mosca (U. of Waterloo), Anita Wehmann (Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations), Jaya Baloo (CSO - Senior Vice President, Rapid7), dr. Itan Barmes (Deloitte), prof. Christian Schaffner (UvA and QuSoft), and mr. Ot van Daalen (UvA). After the stimulating discussion, participants took part in an interactive and explorative session for a quantum-safe society. We ended our launch with some celebratory drinks.

Asking the right questions, finding sensible answers—it all hinges upon understanding. An understanding of the world around us, of the capacities and ramifications of our technologies, and of what matters to us. But what does it really mean to 'understand' something? On 3 April, Sebastian De Haro and Eline de Jong hosted a workshop titled 'Understanding Science and Technology: From Fundamental Science to Technology, Quantum and Society' at the Institute for Advanced Study of the University of Amsterdam. Together with speakers like Professor Henk de Regt (Radboud University) and 20 participants from different disciplines, they delved into the nexus of understanding in science, technology, and society, pondering questions like: Can AI deepen scientific understanding? What kind of understanding is involved in designing and using technology? And what defines 'public' understanding of science and technology? 

Sebastian De Haro, QISS project leader, spoke at the Atlantic Assembly panel Introducing quantum: The effects of new technology on quantum technology. Together with experts Lokke Moerel, and Frank Phillipson, Sebastian discussed the opportunities and threats of quantum computing for the global (future) security climate and the societal impact of the quantum revolution.

In March Christian Schaffner joined Ari Schwartz, Philomena Lavery, and John Fokker in a panel at CyberNext Brussels. View and listen to their discussion on Cybersecurity in a Quantum World on YouTube.

QISS researcher Ailsa Robertson joined in March the Quantum Safe Internet spring school in Porto, which was on the topic of Post Quantum Cryptography. Some of the most prominent researchers in the field were speaking on topics including lattices, codes, isogenies, hash-based cryptography and the quantum random oracle model. The purpose of this event was to introduce PhD students to the math/theoretical computer science behind the leading candidate schemes for post quantum cryptography. Christian Schaffner gave the ‘Quantum random oracles’ model talk.

QISS researcher Ailsa Robertson introduced the QISS project at the Quantum Delta NL Action Line, which was run by the Centre for Quantum in Society.


 

During Technical University München’s Festival of Ideas – a conference aimed at exchanging ideas on policy for new and emerging technologies – Eline de Jong chaired a discussion session on how we can deal with risks from future technologies and gave a lighting speech about the importance of understanding: “it is important that we understand how the technology works in order to achieve meaningful way to think about it.”